Gatwick unveils new ‘airport of the future’ images

The images, released today, show an expanded Gatwick as the ‘airport of the future’, with a series of improvements that will eliminate queues, speed up passenger transit, and help Gatwick become the world’s most efficient two-runway airport.

New Gatwick images

Gatwick claims that, compared to Heathrow Airport’s expansion plan, its plan will be simpler, cheaper, quieter and faster, with its reasoning as follows:

Simpler - Gatwick has land already safeguarded for expansion with a second runway scheme called ‘relatively low risk’ by the Airports Commission. Heathrow’s plans require a series of complex and costly infrastructure projects, including the need to tunnel part of the M25, one of Europe’s busiest motorways.

Cheaper – Gatwick’s plans will be privately financed and do not require a penny of taxpayers’ money, unlike the £5.7bn of public funds Heathrow’s expansion plans require

Quieter – where Heathrow expansion would impact 683,000 people with noise, Gatwick would have a fraction of the impact (36,000 people) with industry-leading initiatives in place to help minimise, mitigate and compensate any impact on local communities

New Gatwick images

Faster – Gatwick can have a new runway operational by 2025, quicker than the Airports Commission estimate either Heathrow expansion scheme would be ready.

Architect Sir Terry Farrell, who helped in the creation of the plans, said: “It’s not just a second runway, it’s a brand new airport.

“Our proposals for Gatwick are not just for another runway, but an entirely new world class airport for London and the UK. Heathrow cannot deliver that.

“Our vision for Gatwick is that it becomes the world’s most efficient two runway airport – flexible and responsive to meet the changing needs of passengers and airlines. With an elegant and simple terminal layout, we have designed a direct and straightforward route from curbside to plane, creating a seamless passenger experience. Queues have literally been designed out and the new terminal will be simple and convenient to use with minimal changes of level. The airfield itself will also offer the shortest taxiing distances possible with the new apron sitting between, and in close-proximity to, both the existing and new runways.

“By providing a second runway at Gatwick, we will create a much more balanced system of infrastructure, and capitalise on the integrated connectivity we already have in London. It will positively affect the whole of the UK’s infrastructure, and build on the power of networks. A second runway would turbocharge economic growth in the South East and do for South London was the Olympics did for East London.”

Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate said: “Britain desperately needs more airport capacity and after decades of delay, it is decision time. Gatwick’s plans offer a blueprint for another world-class airport for the UK and the only deliverable option to finally fix the capacity crunch.

“Our plans are simpler, cheaper, faster and quieter while also helping create a more competitive network of UK airports that every passenger can benefit from. In a lengthy, complex debate, Gatwick has remained the simple, obvious solution throughout - it is time we are given the green light to deliver the new runway the UK needs.”

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